Thursday, 18 September 2008

Some of the New York press recently met Claude-Alain Bugnon and La Clandestine at a launch party held at Gemma, also covered here.

This event saw the unveiling both of La Clandestine and some sensational new absinthe cocktails, created especially for the evening by George Delgado. The first two below are my favourites but they all work very well, showing clearly that the renaissance of absinthe is also seeing a resurgence of creative cocktail recipes for absinthe. Let me know your views of these ... or of any other absinthe cocktails.

Moisten the outer rim of the martini glass with simple syrup, dip it into Graham cracker crumbs. In an ice-filled mixing glass or shaker, add the ingredients and shake thoroughly. Strain into the prepared martini glass and float the almond slices in the drink.

*First prepare the glass by moistening the entire outer portion of the martini glass with a lime wedge or simple syrup, be sure to keep the stem clean. Sprinkle/shake confectioner’s sugar over entire moistened area. In an ice-filled mixing glass add La Clandestine Absinthe, the White Crème de Cacao, White Crème de Menthe and the spring water. Shake thoroughly and strain into the prepared Martini glass. Add the rosemary sprig into the cocktail.

Clandestine Luna

1 oz. La Clandestine Absinthe

1 oz. 100% Blue Agave Blanco Tequila

1 oz. Combier

Splash of orange juice

Splash of simple syrup

Garnish = Orange Wheel

Glassware = Martini Glass

Finished with a dash of Blue Curacao into finished drink

In an ice-filled mixing glass or shaker, add La Clandestine Absinthe, the Blanco Tequila, and the Combier with the splash of orange juice and the splash of simple syrup. Shake vigorously until shaker gets ice cold. Strain into the Martini glass… NOW add the drop or two of Blue Curacao - it will sink to the bottom to form a “layer”. Put an orange wheel on the rim, or a very thinly sliced orange wheel floating in the drink.

Forbidden Harvest

1 oz. La Clandestine Absinthe

2 ½ oz. Van Gogh Apple vodka

½ oz. simple syrup

Garnish = green apple slice with 3 whole cloves pushed in

Glassware = Martini glass

In an ice-filled mixing glass or shaker, add the Van Gogh Apple Vodka with La Clandestine Absinthe & simple syrup. Shake thoroughly and strain into a Martini glass. Push 3 whole cloves into an apple slice or wedge, and float into drink

And a bonus shooter ...

Deadly Nightshade

1 part La Clandestine Absinthe

3 parts Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka

Shake until ice cold and strain into shot glasses

NOTE: Deadly Nightshade is a plant that produces berries very similar to Elderberries…except they are poisonous!

Thanks to George Delgado of Promixology in New York/New Jersey for these.